Monday, March 1, 2010

Where to Work?

Where to work? In the DCP you have the opportunity to request where you want to work (although it is far from guaranteed), as a Merchandise cast member my options are almost endless, I can work anywhere from a resort to Downtown Disney, I can even work inside the  parks themselves. Never one to shy away from the hustle and bustle of a busy setting I find myself longing to be inside one of the parks. After my initial disappointment at being selected for Merchandise rather then Attractions, my shining light was the possibility of working in the Briar Patch.

The Briar Patch is connected to Splash Mountain and provides a fun place to dry off and see the inevitably terror-struck picture of your thrill ride persona. Deep in the heart of Frontierland it's connection to one of Walt's mountains guarantees a heavy stream of guests  practically year round and a chance to be right in the middle of the magic. It also adds one more special opportunity that may take a second to comprehend: working at Splash Mountain. That obvious fact holds more then you would think.Splash Mountain is absolutely one of my favorite rides, everything from the catchy song to the adrenaline of that drop. Yes, it's only 50 ft but as in almost all Disney rides, the magic's in the presentation. After all those little drops that are the ultimate fake out you've just settled into your seat when there it is: THE drop. That terrifying moment where you look down and are sure that you are going to fall into a twisted Briar Patch with Brer Bear and Brer Fox, unable to escape. The hidden magic in this brief moment of terror, if at the top of Chickapin Hill you look straight in front of you instead of down into the Briars you see the most beautiful view of Cinderella Castle in the whole park. This view makes the ride worth while to even the most drop-shy guest. The possibility of working so near this magical ride makes me almost grateful that I'm in Merchandise instead of Attractions.  In Merchandise I get the opportunity to see guests just as they leave the rides, I get to see the magic.